S6C is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people (under 18s are children in the eyes of the law).
We believe that the young person’s welfare is always of paramount concern, and that all young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately in accordance with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which mirrors annual updates in the national safeguarding document, Keeping Children Safe in Education.
We actively promote an ethos of openness and transparency, encouraging all members of our community to report any concerns they may have regarding the welfare of a child or young person, either in college, at home, online, or in the community. The dedicated and specially trained safeguarding team take all concerns seriously and follow robust procedures to investigate and address them, working closely with relevant authorities as necessary.
Our ethos of It’s All About You, and our vision to offer both challenge and support to our young people, so they can become the best version of themselves and achieve both academically, personally, and as citizens moving out into the wider world, sits at the heart of our student-centred approach.
Our students and staff are all encouraged to work together to keep everyone safe. Everyone has a piece of the puzzle and the information that could keep someone safe should always be shared.
These are some examples of key safeguarding messages which we remind staff and students about at S6C:
- Everywhere in college and the grounds should be a safe space for all at all times.
- S6C is an inclusive college and we expect everyone to be treated with respect.
- No concern is too small to be passed on.
- Banter which compromises the wellbeing of others should not be dismissed.
- We have zero tolerance for all forms of abuse, prejudice, or discrimination including (but not limited to) homophobia, transphobia, racism, anti semitism, Islamophobia, bullying, harassment or assault, harmful sexual behaviour, misogyny, ableism.
- We are not only interested in what happens in college – you can tell us about concerns for the wellbeing of a student in their home, community or at work.
- We are interested in wellbeing online as well as in person, (especially given the emerging links between unhealthy use of AI and poor mental health, radicalisation, and the wider online threats of harmful sexual behaviour, bullying, and the damage that can be caused by disinformation or misinformation) – some groups of young people are more vulnerable and may require closer monitoring, but anyone can be affected.
- Early help is best but we can offer support even if something happened in the past – if we cannot help, we will know where to refer to get support.
We have strong working partnerships with a number of agencies including our external college counsellors, our school nurse, our early intervention external Mental Health Support Team, organisations supporting Young Carers, local LGBTQ youth group, drug and alcohol support and mentoring service, the eating disorder service, CAMHS, and the formal support services from the Integrated Front Door safeguarding hub at Wiltshire Council, to name a few.
Reporting concerns about a child:
If you are concerned about the welfare of a young person please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead, or one of our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, via safeguarding@s6c.mlp.college
A whole college approach:
Every adult is expected to play their part in safeguarding our children. This includes staff, volunteers, and the careful checking or supervision of any adult coming on site. We support this commitment through safeguarding and child protection awareness training and training in the national Prevent programme, which seeks to act early in preventing radicalisation which could be a threat to the safety of others.
All staff, from teachers and tutors, to support staff, cleaning and site team, cafe staff, volunteers, governors, and exam invigilators, are part of the whole college approach to safeguarding. They know the procedures that should be followed should they have any concerns about a child. All staff know where to go should they require some information, help and guidance. Everyone has access to the safeguarding team, to the email safeguarding@s6c.mlp.college, and to key procedures, flow charts, and guidance should they feel the system is not working, or if they have any concerns about the behaviour of another staff member.
Our safeguarding service is confidential for young people, unless we need to tell someone to help keep them safe. Information is shared with other members of the team and with relevant support services as needed, and with others when it is in the best interest of the young person. However, we are committed to working in partnership with parents, carers and external agencies to support the welfare and well-being of our students. We believe that effective safeguarding requires a collaborative approach, and we encourage open communication and information sharing to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people.
Magna Learning Partnership, our academy trust, supports us by:
- Fully adopting the annual Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance
- Undertaking safeguarding external/internal reviews and Local Authority audits on an annual basis;
- Ensuring we adhere to MLP’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and other safeguarding policies and procedures that details Academy specific advice and designated safeguarding officer details;
- Ensuring we have a governor on our Local Governing Body with special responsibility for safeguarding;
- Having a Trustee with special responsibility for safeguarding, who liaises with MLP’s Director of Safeguarding;
- Ensuring all staff receive regular training on child protection procedures, including Prevent and Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance.
Our safeguarding governor visits regularly and liaises with the Head of College, the Safeguarding Lead and team, and talks to students to gain feedback on their views on safety in college and their understanding of safeguarding support and processes.
Reporting concerns about an adult working or volunteering in our Academies:
If you are concerned about an adult working or volunteering in any of our Academies contact the Headteacher or if it is a concern against the Headteacher then the relevant Director of Education for the Trust must be informed.
Safer Recruitment:
